This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for six months to a year. This person is looking in academic, library vendors/service providers, public, and school libraries at the following levels: supervisory, department head, senior librarian, branch manager.

This job hunter is in an suburban area in the Midwestern US and is not willing to move.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Full time position, team atmosphere with no drama, and small community library. Also, a public library willing to see the potential in someone with 10 years of service running a school library.

Where do you look for open positions?

Michigan: go directly to library website, Wayne State University listserv, ALA Joblist, Monster.com, and any other site that posts position in the State of Michigan.

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Other: yes, gives indication as to how they value professional librarians.

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

My resume is updated, it’s the cover letter that is newly created for each position. Two hours.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Post only “real” openings, not openings for which someone is already in place to take the position, or mention that if an internal candidates gets the position that there may be a secondary position available. No one likes to spend time preparing for an opening that really isn’t available.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

I don’t view the hiring process as painful; have never viewed the hiring process as painful. I find this a very odd question.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Having the right qualifications or experience for the position, plus making a connection with the interviewer.

One response to “Post only “real” openings”

I can so agree with your point about only posting “real” jobs but you lost me at the part about the hiring process not being painful. This is not an odd question. The last few years have been VERY painful if you have needed to find a job in libraries/archives. Even for the folks who have found something, the process has not been easy AT ALL.